Since I have immersed myself in the TJEdRefers generally to the concepts presented in the book A Thomas Jefferson Education, written by Dr. Oliver Van DeMille. “lifestyle,” and abandoned the “conveyor belt,” I have been doing my best to travel along the path to scholarship and freedom of thought. Yet, at times I have found myself moving toward lofty heights that confuse my mission/goals and side-track my priorities.

With all of the knowledge I am getting, what am I gaining? As I ask myself this question, a proverb comes to mind, “Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom: and with all thy getting get understanding.”1

I have heard these “lofty heights” described as an “Ivory Tower,” and though I have felt its appeal, I have come to see it as more of a temptation, rather than a goal. One source describes it as such: “The term Ivory Tower designates a world or atmosphere where intellectuals engage in pursuits that are disconnected from the practical concerns of everyday life. As such, it has a pejorative connotation , denoting a willful disconnect from the everyday world ...and academic elitism, if not outright condescension by those inhabiting the proverbial ivory tower.”2

How does an “ivory tower,” such as the one described above, fit into my own mission? That’s not where I want to be! We are seeking greatness, but once we find it, what do we use it for? I am studying and learning to help my family, to fulfill my mission, and to help others, not to place myself above anyone else!

“...with all thy getting, get understanding...”

When the TJEd Consortium was created, we envisioned a place where those experienced in TJEd principles who have traveled further on the path of leadership, would reach out and grasp the hands of those who feel insecure or confused. We wanted a home for all those seeking something more, something greater: a community, a neighborhood, a village.

When I use the word “village,” I’m not talking about the “day care, public school, cradle-to-the-grave” plans of some politician. I’m thinking of the pioneers, colonists, and pilgrims, and how they reached out to care for one another. We are all dwelling in a sparsely-populated, educational wilderness, my friends! But, the good news is, we can lean on these wonderful principles, each other, and God for support.

In the classics we can also find hope in stories that lift and encourage us. In the child’s book Caddie Woodlawn, we meet a family of pioneers (the Woodlawns) who love freedom so dearly, that they leave behind refined civilization, riches, even titles and wealth for the liberty of carving out a life for themselves and their children’s children.

In its sequel, Magical Melons (which has since been retitled Caddie Woodlawn’s Family), we read of the Woodlawns’ neighbors, the McCantrys, who in their disdain for the frontier town and its “rustic” ways, move on to what they brag will be greener pastures, and grander homes. Instead, months later, they find themselves in the clutches of poverty, with only a wheelbarrow to hold their belongings, shame in their eyes, and emptiness in their bellies. Mr. Woodlawn and his wife take them in, even though this family may not “deserve” it. They form a plan to help these destitute people, and the community gathers to help. From the book:

There was nothing like another’s need to rally the pioneers of that day. Dr. Nightingale joined Mr. Woodlawn in donating a good-sized strip of land at the edge of the swamp. Another man, who had plenty of timber on his farm, offered enough logs to build a cabin if others could cut and haul them. Men and boys who had nothing to give but their time gladly did the cutting and hauling. One neighbor offered a pig, another a cow, and a third the use of his horse and plow to break a garden spot.

On the day of the “raising,” men and boys on horseback arrived early from all the country around and went to work on the cabin. The women and girls came along later in the morning with covered dishes and jars of pickles and preserves.

The swamp echoed with the ringing of axes and mallets and the cries of men as they heaved the upper logs into place. By sundown the McCantrys had a house of their own. All the hard work was done and only the finishing was left for Mr. McCantry. As the neighbors prepared to depart, other gifts came out of the wagons: a sack of potatoes, a rocking chair, a bushel of turnips, a goosefeather pillow, a string of dried apples, a couple of live chickens.

“I know what you’ve been thinking of us, Mrs. Woodlawn,” [Mrs. McCantry] said slowly. “Shiftless, you thought, and I guess you were right. But we’ve seen what neighbors can be like today. We’re going to set right out to be good neighbors ourselves. You won’t ever regret all that you have done for us!”

The two women looked at each other and for the first time they smiled in sudden understanding.

The McCantrys would be good neighbors.3

We can build—and are building—a web of families with strands that brush against each other and intertwine to create a future for one another. What will that future look like? Will we be ciphers and hermits, pouring over books in an effort to compete with one another, or will we be friends and neighbors who reach out in service and love? When we look at the TJEd Locator map (found on the TJEd.org website) and see red dots signifying families on this journey to liberty, we see that some of us have much support, and some little or none. Can we reach out and create a safe haven even though we may live miles apart? YES! We believe that the TJEd Consortium can facilitate that kind of community.

That’s why we built it!

I believe that we are all part of the birth of something wonderful, with the potential to be a powerful influence for good in the world! As those who feel drawn to TJEd principles and ideals, we are all seeking to find our missions and create something better for the future. We are pioneers blazing a trail, making the road smoother for those who will follow us. As we trudge through wide deserts of doubt and hack through the jungles of frustration, we can look behind us with great satisfaction.

If you think about it, helping one another IS our mission—and God will help us do it!

The first step off the conveyor belt is a steep one, and the TJEd path is dark, then murky, then brilliantly lit by turns. God’s voice is always at the head, speaking encouraging words of love. But some days, when the mists are heaviest, and the path rocky, we also need the reassuring hand of one who has crossed the wilderness before us. This mentor can be there for a day, a year, or just for that moment. But they reach out to us in friendship, not looking down from a “great and spacious building.”

Each of us have begun our TJEd journeys from different places and times in our lives. Yet we are all on the very same path. We cannot do the work for one another, but we can cheer each other on! We can be the encouraging voice, the smile, the mentor, the friend that another might need.

The TJEd Consortium is a refuge where we can gather in and circle our wagons. We encourage all to participate and share, becoming friends and mentors that can uplift and inspire. We all have a common goal; to do the uncommon, and change the world for the better.